Audi begins its first Formula 1 season as a factory team facing unusually high immediate expectations, pressured by its own 'Vorsprung durch Technik' motto and the legacy of German manufacturers in F1. Experts predict the team must fight for points from the start, with a minimum target of sixth in the championship, as it embarks on a long-term mission to become a champion.
Motorsport.com invites fans to join its F1 Fantasy league to compete against our experts. With the 2026 season's new rules creating uncertainty, our writers reveal their strategic team picks for the opening round in Melbourne, highlighting the tough value decisions all players must make.
Aston Martin’s 2026 AMR26 suffers severe power‑unit vibrations that damage the battery and chassis, forcing limited laps and reduced engine modes in Melbourne. The issue threatens performance, driver safety, and could leave the team with only one car for the race.
Charles Leclerc conceded Mercedes looked "very strong" on race pace after Friday practice in Melbourne, while admitting a risky setup change on his Ferrari backfired. The Monegasque driver said the team would return to a "more reasonable" configuration as Mercedes drivers Russell and Antonelli surged to P2 and P3 in FP2.
Mercedes displayed formidable long-run speed in Australian GP practice, establishing itself as the early race-day favorite. While McLaren set the fastest lap, Ferrari and Red Bull face deficits, Aston Martin battles severe reliability issues, and new team Audi impressed in its competitive debut.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has pushed back against criticism from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton regarding the 2026 regulations, calling it "wrong" to speak negatively about the sport's direction. The drivers have heavily criticized the new cars' requirement for intense battery management and "lift-and-coast" tactics, arguing it harms pure racing.
Mercedes and George Russell posted the fastest long‑run times in Australian practice, demonstrating superior energy‑management under the new 2026 regulations. A clear four‑car front group emerged, leaving the midfield to fight for pace and points.
Esteban Ocon says the mental demand of F1's new 2026 regulations is overwhelming, with his head ready to 'explode' from information overload after practice in Australia. While his Haas car has a decent base balance, perfecting the critical new energy management system remains the key and complex challenge ahead.
Oscar Piastri led a McLaren 1-2 in second practice at his home Australian Grand Prix, but downplayed the result as teams scramble to understand F1's new 2026 cars. After power issues in FP1, his clean run provided crucial data, though both driver and team warn the competitive order is far from settled.
Max Verstappen says Red Bull's pace is meeting his expectations, despite a messy Friday practice in Melbourne where he damaged his car's floor. He finished sixth in FP2 after the incident, citing ongoing setup work and grip struggles as the team prepares for overnight analysis.
Adrian Newey says Aston Martin only learned in Nov 2025 that Honda’s F1 programme had been gutted after its 2021 exit. The under‑staffed, under‑powered engine is already causing reliability woes, threatening the new works partnership’s 2026 title hopes.
Oscar Piastri delivered for the home fans by setting the fastest lap time in Friday practice for the Australian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver's strong start provides an ideal platform to challenge for a high grid position in Saturday's qualifying session at Albert Park.
